MTV VMAs 2013 Preview: Justin Timberlake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lead A-List Cast of Nominees & Performers
Even if the hotly rumored 'N Sync reunion doesn't happen, the MTV Video Music Awards are already shaping up as Justin Timberlake's night.
The lead nominee — with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis— is up for six awards. Timberlake also will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and the anticipation over whether he and his old boy-band cronies will appear together will persist well after the show kicks off Sunday night from Brooklyn.
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MTV is officially mum, neither confirming nor denying the rumor, and Joey Fatone has even denied it officially. But 'N Sync debuted a Twitter account Saturday , and the hubbub has overshadowed what will be an all-star lineup at the Barclays Center.
Lady Gaga, Katy Perryand Drakewill perform hit singles for the first time, Kanye Westwill make a record-tying seventh VMA perofrmance and Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrusand — if the spurned Stephen Colbert is to be believed — Daft Punksquare off in a song-of-the-summer competition. But 'N Sync has managed to steal the thunder.
"We're just hoping we're not doing anything after them because anything after 'N Sync this year is going to be irrelevant," One Direction's Harry Styles said.
One Directiondidn't give any clues about its role, and MTV has kept many details about the two-hour show under wraps. Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, A$AP Rocky, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jared Letoand last year's host Kevin Hart(MTV has chosen to go without a host this year) are scheduled to participate, and former NBA player Jason Collins, who recently acknowledged he is gay, will introduce Macklemore and Lewis' marriage equality anthem "Same Love."
The Seattle duo is the surprise of the year and is up for six awards, as Timberlake it. The Seattle rap crew has the top song from the first half of 2013, "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz, one of five songs up for the top honor: video of the year.
Timberlake — who's won seven moonman trophies — has the year's best-selling album, "The 20/20 Experience," and his follow-up "The 20/20 Experience: 2 of 2," is due out in September. His "Mirrors" is up for video of the year. Thicke's "Blurred Lines" featuring T.I. and Pharrell, Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven" and Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" round out the category.
Mars has the next-highest number of nominations, with four. Pink, Cyrus, Thicke and Thirty Seconds to Mars have three apiece.
The show travels to Brooklyn and the brand new Barclays Center for the first time, which should change its vibe. It also will change the iconic moonman trophy. MTV commissioned Brooklyn artist KAWS to redesign the statuette for this year's show.
See the complete list of 2013 MTV Video Music Awards nominees below:
Video Of The Year
Justin Timberlake – "Mirrors"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – "Thrift Shop"
Bruno Mars – "Locked Out of Heaven"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell – "Blurred Lines"
Taylor Swift – "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Best Hip-Hop Video
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – "Can't Hold Us"
Drake – "Started From The Bottom"
Kendrick Lamar – "Swimming Pools"
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – "F**kin Problems"
J. Cole feat. Miguel – "Power Trip"
Best Male Video
Justin Timberlake – "Mirrors"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell – "Blurred Lines"
Bruno Mars – "Locked Out of Heaven"
Ed Sheeran – "Lego House"
Kendrick Lamar – "Swimming Pools"
Best Female Video
Rihanna feat. Mickey Ekko – "Stay"
Taylor Swift – "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Miley Cyrus – "We Can't Stop"
P!nk feat. Nate Ruess – "Just Give Me A Reason"
Demi Lovato – "Heart Attack"
Best Pop Video
Bruno Mars – "Locked Out of Heaven"
Justin Timberlake – "Mirrors"
fun. – "Carry On"
Miley Cyrus – "We Can't Stop"
Selena Gomez – "Come and Get It"
Artist To Watch Presented by Taco Bell®
Twenty One Pilots – "Holding On To You"
Zedd Feat. Foxes – "Clarity"
Austin Mahone – "What About Love"
The Weeknd – "Wicked Games"
Iggy Azalea – "Work"
Best Collaboration
Justin Timberlake feat. JAY Z -"Suit & Tie"
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera – "Feel This Moment"
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding – "I Need Your Love"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell – "Blurred Lines"
P!nk feat. Nate Ruess – "Just Give Me A Reason"
Best Video With A Social Message
Kelly Clarkson – "People Like Us"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – "Same Love"
Snoop Lion – "No Guns Allowed"
Miguel – "Candles In The Sun"
Beyoncé – "I Was Here"
Best Rock Video
Imagine Dragons – "Radiocative"
Fall Out Boy – "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)"
Mumford & Sons – "I Will Wait"
30 Seconds To Mars – "Up In The Air"
Vampire Weekend – "Diane Young"
Best Art Direction
Capital Cities – "Safe and Sound"
30 Seconds To Mars – "Up In The Air"
Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu – "Q.U.E.E.N"
Lana Del Rey – "National Anthem"
alt-J – "Tesselate"
Best Choreography
Chris Brown – "Fine China"
Ciara – "Body Party"
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – "Live It Up"
will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber – "#thatPOWER"
Bruno Mars – "Treasure"
Best Cinematography
30 Seconds To Mars – "Up In The Air"
Lana Del Rey – "Ride"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Sacrilege"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – "Can't Hold Us"
A-Trak & Tommy Trash – "Tuna Melt"
Best Direction
Justin Timberlake feat. JAY Z – "Suit & Tie"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – "Can't Hold Us"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Sacrilege"
fun. – "Carry On"
Drake – "Started From The Bottom"
Best Editing
P!nk feat. Nate Ruess – "Just Give Me A Reason"
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – "Sweet Nothing"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – "Can't Hold Us"
Justin Timberlake – "Mirrors"
Miley Cyrus – "We Can't Stop"
Best Visual Effects
Flying Lotus – "Tiny Tortures"
Skrillex feat. The Door – "Breakin' A Sweat"
The Weeknd – "Wicked Games"
Duck Sauce – "It's You"
Capital Cities – "Safe and Sound"
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